[Open] My Hearth Is Yours

[judgemewhole]

WHO: James Norrington and You
WHAT: Dining with the Commander
WHEN: Throughout Wintermarch
WHERE: The Great Hall
NOTES: Nothing but 'seriously dude, you're hiding something aren't you?'

Even Templars need to eat.

And drink.

Sometimes they have to do a lot of drinking, honestly, but Norrington kept his portions of wine to a reasonable amount when he had it with his supper. He always dined in the main hall, few times with his men, but often times he came in in alone with papers and letters in which he worked upon while he broke meat and bread off and slipped it into his mouth without thinking. His pen never seemed to stop, as he scripted pages and pages of writing -- before tossing some of them aside and grumpily burning others.

Once and awhile, you could catch him with no papers at all, but a book, his head propped up on his hand and his green eyes distant as he read the words on the page and sipped from his glass of wine.

Comments

[equanimiti]

Drinking is something Sauveterre is awfully good at.

Usually haunting the Herald's Rest in the later part of the evening, it's actually a rarity for Alayre to reach the dining halls. The last time he dined here was during the wake and Andraste knows how horrid that while affair was. The only reason for his appearance here now is to pick the brain of a fellow Templar he truly admires.

"How sad." Alayre states as he lingers at the threshold of this grand dining hall. "To dine alone with only mindless paperwork to keep you company." The Orlesian couldn't help but grin a little at James as he dares to approach.

Alayre has taken a more casual style as of late when not dressed like a Templar Knight-Commander. He seems more relaxed this way in dark leathers and warm cottons. His fondness for hooded cloaks are quite apparent too since this is the same dark indigo cloak he wore during their mock spar. Something changed in Alayre as of late or maybe he actually grown comfortable enough not to feel the need for steel anymore. Whatever the reason, the older Templar seems more amiable these days.

"Is there a chance that I could amuse you with conversation over paperwork, good ser?"

[judgemewhole]

"Hmmm, the paperwork is consistent company though. It will never, ever leave me." James replied dryly, as he put his quill back into the ink bottle, leaning back to look at the other man. He was wearing the informal garb of a Knight Commander - shirt open, leather jerkin, and trousers, with the Knight Commander insignia attached to his shoulder.

"I assure you, you will be more amusing than the paperwork. Please, sit. Help yourself to some wine, my friend. Tell me what's going on." He sat back with his own glass, crossing his long legs under the table. "I am due a long break."

[equanimiti]

Alayre had already made his way towards a nearby chair by the time the commander formally invites him. He takes a seat and immediately pours himself a much needed glass on wine. He's done good to keep his alcohol consumption low as of late by always sipping a cup of tea or cider. However, Alayre certainly missed the loving nectar of a crisp sweet wine.

"I certainly don't mind helping myself to your wine, James." The Orlesian says with a tinge of mirth in his tone. "Never shall you find me sampling Fereldan wines any other way." He jests playfully. Alayre spoken like a true connoisseur.

"You have my word that I shan't take my leave until you grow bored of me." He says before taking a generous sip of his glass.

"Not bad."

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne had a tendency to avoid the Great Hall. This was largely carried over from her career as a spy. It was only when she was playing a role that she would dine in a hall like this. And it made her wildly uncomfortable. So many eyes, so many people. And she had never managed to fully master humanoid table manners. It was always the worst in Valeria, where she constantly forgot which fork was for which course.

Here, though, there was the added stress of the politics of Thedas. She wasn't a part of it, and yet it could control her very existence.

For better or for worse, though, her curiosity sometimes got the better of her. Especially when she was hungry.

And as it happened, she was famished that evening.

She slipped into the hall, wearing the too-big cloak that Korrin had given her on the day she arrived. She smelled bread, which was her absolute favorite thing. Alastrians, by and large, didn't cook. So the idea of combining so many ingredients to create something entirely new was still an intriguing novelty. She thought she might treat herself.

[judgemewhole]

James snorted softly as he reached for his own glass of wine and took a sip. He eyed the glass, before shrugging after a moment, "It certainly isn't a Tantervale Red, to be certain, but it has it's rustic charms."

Says the Free Marcher boy, with all the snobbery that comes so easily across cultural borders. Softened with a gentle smirk, as he lets himself relax in the chair.

"So, how shall you keep me from growing bored, I ask in faint terror." Is his drawled response.

[judgemewhole]

Norrington was, of course, working diligently at his own area he had claimed at one of the long tables. Papers spread out neatly before him in different piles - corresponded with Templars who were still in the field, requests that needed to be filled for supplies he wanted from the Quartermaster (the uniforms he wanted for his men being the top of the list.). Training schedules for the soldiers, all of the above.

His commitment was to the Inquisition, and in due time, the New Order. This was where it began, sadly, with paperwork.

Luckily the Cook had a soft spot for him, so having a basket of fresh rolls and beef and grapes at his elbow was a fine inducement to keep going. He was also famished.

[demonicbeauty]

The Human dining alone pulled Ariadne's attention. He was swathed in the scent of ink and parchment, reminding her of Aden's scent back home. Surely, someone that engrossed in their work wouldn't miss a roll or two.

But ask or snatch? That was the question.

Ariadne drifted closer to his table, weighing her probabilities as best she could. It was harder to do in Thedas than it was back home.

Still. She held many of her old principles firm.

Ask, she decided, straightening to her full height of five foot two and pulling down her hood as she approached.

[equanimiti]

At that tiny bit of playful ribbing, the Orlesian gives James a slight glance. "Oh really?" He asks with a faint chuckle. "Fancy that. I would've never guessed you to possess such refined tastes." More chuckles escape Alayre as he takes another sip of his wine. Careful, James. He's known to drown a bottle or two of red quite easily.

"Have no fear of the horrors I shall bestow upon you. I plan to keep all discussion of work to a minimum." He says while reaching for the wine bottle again to full his glass.

"The rumor mill is spinning about you, dear James. What is all this talk about you wooing elves?" Such a nosy old fellow isn't he? Forgive him, James. Alayre is merely curious.

[onlyhymns]

Cade would join Norrington and his men in the dining hall sometimes, rarely saying a word but clearly seeking comfort in the camaraderie of fellow Templars. With his Kirkwall brethren scattered to the winds, and Norrington's invitation open, he would hang near them and almost seem to prefer that they consider him ornamental. When the meal was over, he would ghost away.

He hadn't appeared at the table since his sparring incident, but on this particular evening he made his way down, expression shadowed and eyes worried as he scanned the table's occupants. He stood there for a moment, debating whether to sit with them or not, and thankfully none of the men paid him much notice. He was strange, and always a bit of a labor to talk to.

[judgemewhole]

Norrington was aware of the woman before she approached his side - another ragamuffin refugee who had found herself inside the Great Hall. She had pulled back her hood and was approaching him, so the polite thing to do was to lift his gaze and try for a smile.

"Good evening, madam. How might I help you?" Anyone freely approaching a Templar these days was, in Norrington's opinion, should be treated with courtesy.

[demonicbeauty]

'Madam' was a step up from what she was usually called. Generally, it was something like 'you there' or 'girl.'

His politeness was endearing. And only further reminded her of Aden.

She dipped into a polite curtsy in return, with the flawless grace of a courtier, despite her lack of silks and jewels. And a skirt. "I don't mean to intrude, my lord," she said. "But I was wondering...if you were going to eat all of those."

Ariadne eyed the rolls meaningfully.

[judgemewhole]

"I am from the Free Marches, Alayre, not from the Hinterlands." Came James's equally dry response. He himself is going to sip at his wine, thank you. If Alayre wanted to polish off two bottles, he would be glad to carry him back to his room.

"Blessed are the peacekeepers. There are some things that we need to talk about ... but they can wait." He sipped again, before he arched an eyebrow. He sipped once more, and stated firmly, "I am not wooing elves, plural. I am wooing a singular elf, and her name is Pel."

[judgemewhole]

Well, now that was a very pleasant curtsay, despite the lack of the skirt. He arched an eyebrow, impressed, before he glanced over to the rolls. He blinked for a moment, before he shook his head.

"Gracious no, please help yourself." He paused, then eyed the window, "... I suppose it is time for supper, isn't it? Well, feel free to join me if you like, madam."

[judgemewhole]

Norrington glanced up to see Cade there, before he tilted his chin to the chair beside him as he carefully cut up his chicken. Giselle and Anamaria were discussing the quickest way to kill a red templar, while Gilette was correcting Murtogg and Mullroy on the court etiquette of where Templars fell in royal society.

Bush was the only one who brightened at the sight of Cade, and gave him a little wave at the end of the table. Norrington glanced over at Burns, arching an eyebrow. Cade didn't want attention - he just wanted to fit in, poor man. Drawing attention to him would only draw him away.

[demonicbeauty]

It was more than she'd been expecting, but she was pleasantly surprised. Ariadne's faith in the kindness of others wasn't proven as often as she would have liked, but every now and then...

It was like a little 'I told you so' to the doubters.

She smiled prettily, bowing her head. "That's very generous of you," she said, taking a few more hesitant steps closer. "I don't want to be an imposition or anything."

[equanimiti]

"Fair enough." Alayre replies with a faint smirk upon his lips. The Orlesian isn't about to trade blows about refinement here and now. There's more interesting matters to discuss.

"Is there?" His previous smirk fades into a more serious frown. "Depending on how dire, perhaps we could speak of it sooner than later." He mentions briefly before approaching the topic at hand.

"Pel? I do believe I know of that name but never met her formally." Alayre only knows of her briefly from his dealing with the Mage Council. To be frank, he hasn't gone out of his way to introduce himself to anyone as of late. The man's quite reclusive to some respect.

"You're the talk of Skyhold, James, and I mean this in a good way."

[onlyhymns]

Cade glanced between Bush and Norrington, lowering his head slightly as he went to sit in the indicated chair. Once he'd situated himself, he gave a furtive nod of greeting to Norrington before beginning to eat, his nobleman's table manners evident even after all these years.

[judgemewhole]

"Absolutely not." He stacked up his papers, making room for her at the seat next to him. "After all, we are all in this together. Comrades in arms, and if I shall feed my brothers and sisters, I will of course feed my allies. Andraste would do no less."

He put a plate before her, so she could help herself, as he went back to scribbling on the page he was writing on for another moment, before taking a roll for himself. "Mm. Still warm ... when did these get here?"

He hadn't even noticed the Cook dropping them off, the old softie.

[judgemewhole]

They were all quiet for a moment, watching Cade eat as if he was at a banquet in Orlais instead of a long table at Skyhold, before Norrington cleared his throat and spoke to the others, drawing attention away from Cade.

"So I was thinking we would start training how to kill demons and abominations, over the next few weeks. Best strategies, that sort of thing. It might behoove us to have someone write this all down as well, so we have a record of all that we have learned to pass on to the next squad training."

[demonicbeauty]

Sweeping the trailing ends of her cloak up behind her, Ariadne neatly perched herself on the seat. She pulled her braid out from the neckline, letting it fall down her back, before she carefully helped herself to a roll, breaking it in half and enjoying the scent of the steam that rose up.

She started to break it up into little pieces, careful to try to keep the glow in her left hand concealed. It was a trick she'd picked up back home. Smaller pieces meant a longer time eating, if you did it right.

Old habits.

"I don't know, my lord," she said in response to his question.

[onlyhymns]

If the surveillance had gone on for even a moment longer, Cade would have fled. As it was, his heart was pounding in his ears, and he could barely taste the food for the intensity of his regret in coming down here. The topic change was a blessing, and he glanced at Norrington with a silent nod of agreement.

[judgemewhole]

James nodded his head, the smirk on his own face fading to something into something more serious. "We can - once we have finished supper. I refuse to talk politics on an empty stomach."

He nodded, and unbidden, his green eyes lit up from within, his smile softened and he suddenly seemed more ... at ease than he was a few moments ago. "Yes, Pel. I shall have to introduce you - in fact I shall have to introduce her to all my Templar friends." He paused, then sighed, "...Perhaps to Cade. I believe she and Nerva are already ... acquainted."

Now his eyebrows rose together, "All right, I'll bite. How so?"

[judgemewhole]

She ate just like a bird. He watched her for a moment, eyebrows raising up in faint surprise, before he turned to his own roll. It was cut decisively in half, and the meat was layered atop each half. He took small bites, as he leaned back in the chair.

"Well either I haven't been paying attention, completely likely, or someone has cast more time magic."

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne glanced up at him, eyes getting round and wide.

In Valeria, Time magic was more or less the most sacred magic that the Elves used. Although she wasn't an Elf, having been raised in their kingdom for so long, she'd come to appreciate its importance and gravity. She'd taken part in their festivals celebrating Time. And listened to the funeral dirges singing about Time.

Not something to be taken lightly. And certainly never a joke.

"If so," she said, "it wasn't me. I don't have any such magic, my lord."

[judgemewhole]

There were murmurs of agreements, a few ideas bandied about the best ways to take out a rage demon -- ice was of course the most popular answer. Norrington nodded back at Cade, before he put is attention back on Gilette across from him. "I think we ought to look to starting the blood mage training soon as well. Put up a flyer on the main board to see who is still truly interested."

He gestured with his fork towards Cade, then around the hall, "I know even our own brothers and sisters would like to learn something of disposing of maelificarium."